Santa Cruz Juneteenth Festivities Return June 14 to London Nelson Community Center | |
Join us for the 34th annual Santa Cruz Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Laurel Park, behind the historic London Nelson Community Center.
This year's theme, "Body, Mind & Soul," invites all to enjoy a vibrant day of music, dance, poetry, soul food, family fun, and cultural expression. Highlights include:
• Live performances by Samba Ngo, Mandjou Kone, Rastan, Lyrical-I, Queen Jasmeen, and more
• Second Line Sidewalk Parade with live brass band, led by Honorary Grand Marshal Don Williams, starting at the BLM Mural at noon
• Moments of Movement, Ancestors Altar, kids' games, basketball clinic, and community craft vendors
This free, family-friendly event is proudly sponsored by City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation and London Nelson Community Center.
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Murray Street Bridge Full Closure Begins June 23
Beginning the week of June 23, 2025, both the westbound and eastbound lanes of the Murray Street Bridge will be closed to vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to facilitate demolition and construction activities on the Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project. These measures ensure public safety during potentially dangerous working conditions.
The full bridge closure is scheduled to last roughly seven and a half months and will reopen to eastbound vehicle and bicycle traffic in February 2026. The westbound lane will remain closed until the project is completed in January 2028. Two-way pedestrian access across the bridge will reopen in February 2026. Please note that these dates may change depending on project needs and utility work by PG&E and Comcast.
Vehicles will be detoured around the bridge closure through Soquel Ave. via Seabright Ave. and 7th Ave. Bicycles will be detoured across Arana Gulch/Broadway via Seabright Ave. and 7th Ave. Pedestrians will be detoured around the north harbor.
Seabright Businesses are open during construction!
View the detour map for full details and learn more at cityofsantacruz.com/msb.
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Tuesday Night Live — Join Us for Live Music on the Wharf!
The 3rd Annual Tuesday Night Live series includes eight free shows on the second Tuesdays of each month from May to September, plus bonus concerts on the fourth Tuesdays of June, July, and August. Presented by the Wharf Tenants, Parks & Recreation, Friends of Parks & Recreation, and Economic Development, all shows are free and start at 6 p.m. on the Wharf Common Stage.
Upcoming Shows
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June 24 — Extra Large
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July 8 — The Lost Boys featuring James Durbin
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July 22 — Fish Hook
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August 12 — The Joint Chiefs
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August 26 — Sweet VooDoo
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September 9 — Jive Machine
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Working Hours for Newell Creek Pipeline Project Extended Through Summer
Work on the Newell Creek Pipeline project along Graham Hill Road is progressing steadily, with crews averaging 130 feet of pipe installation per workday. This project will relocate the existing pipeline from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to under Graham Hill Road, ensuring long-term water supply reliability. The full project, from East Zayante Road to Henry Cowell Drive, is expected to take two years.
To take advantage of the school summer break, the County of Santa Cruz has approved extended construction hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. from June 9 to Aug. 6. Message signs will provide at least one week’s notice of schedule changes.
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Free Family Event —Woodies on the Wharf — Returns June 21
Celebrate the 29th annual Woodies on the Wharf on Saturday, June 21, from 10 AM–3:30 PM. Presented by City Parks & Recreation and the Santa Cruz Woodies, this free event showcases over 150 classic wooden cars, live surf music, hula dancing, surfboard shaping demos, local vendors, and more—right on the Santa Cruz Wharf!
Highlights include:
- Surf music & hula performances
- Surfboard shaping demos
- Woodies merch & meet-the-artist booth
- Dining, shopping & a support-the-Wharf raffle
- Woodie parade off the Wharf at 3:30 PM
Getting There: Wharf parking is limited. Visitors are encouraged to use the Santa Cruz Shuttle, bike, or park off-site and walk. Free bike valet hosted by Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project
"We're thrilled to celebrate nearly three decades of Woodies on the Wharf," said Recreation Supervisor Annalise Bryant. "It's more than a car show—it's a celebration of craftsmanship and community." Don't miss this timeless Santa Cruz tradition!
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Harvey West Pool Renovation Update
The renovation of the Harvey West Pool is underway with a comprehensive plan to revitalize and enhance the facility to better serve the Santa Cruz community. While there have been several unforeseen challenges, the team continues to make progress with improvements in equipment, staffing, programming, and technology. The pool will reopen in summer 2025 as a destination for aquatic recreation and education. The grand opening date will be announced soon.
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Downtown Farmer's Market's New Location
On Wednesday, June 4, the Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market moved to its interim location at Lot 16, Church, and Cedar Street. Moving the Farmer's Market allows for groundbreaking in Lot 4 for the Downtown Library and Affordable Housing Project. The Farmer's Market will be located in this temporary spot until a permanent location is established. The opening event was a great success, with a large turnout by community members and seamless coordination between market staff and city teams from Public Works, Parking, Police, Fire, and Parks & Recreation.
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Save the Date for the Annual Secchi Dip-In on July 12
The Santa Cruz Water Department invites you to join the annual Secchi Dip-In on Saturday, July 12 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Dip-In is a special celebration of Lakes Appreciation Month at beautiful Loch Lomond! Enjoy a guided tour aboard the Newell Jewell, complete with hands-on water quality sampling and a closer look at what keeps our lake healthy. Space is limited. Call 831-335-7424 to reserve your spot today!
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Free Santa Cruz Recycling Center Tours Available This Summer
The City of Santa Cruz is offering free tours of its Resource Recovery Facility, located at 605 Dimeo Lane, every Friday this summer beginning June 13 through August 22, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. These 90-minute tours provide the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes to view the City’s recycling operations and learn the importance of prioritizing waste reduction.
Tour attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruz residents place into their blue recycle bins every day. They will also learn the importance of “recycling right,” avoiding “wish-cycling,” and how the new food scraps processing program reduces methane emissions from the landfill. Registration is required to attend. Learn more and register today!
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City of Santa Cruz
City Manager's Office
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz CA 95060
santacruzca.gov
831-420-5010
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